Press Releases:

New law most robust in nation, affects all District agencies serving youth

WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign – the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization – applauds District of Columbia Mayor Vincent Gray for signing into law the most robust anti-bullying bill in the nation. The new law recognizes the prevalence of bullying in all areas of youths’ lives by requiring every District agency that serves youth to have an anti-bullying policy. In addition, the new law enumerates categories for protection including sexual orientation and gender identity. It establishes a taskforce to address bullying and intimidation, protects individuals who report in good faith, and requires that incidents be addressed in a developmentally appropriate manner.

“This new law, the most robust in the nation, not only protects young people in school, but in all agencies across the city that serve our youth,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “Today Mayor Gray and members of the DC City Council told every LGBT young person – not just in DC but around the country – that they have value and they have reason to be hopeful.”

HRC is proud to have worked in close coalition with the Gay, Lesbian, & Straight Education Network (GLSEN), Family Equality Council, and the Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League (SMYAL) along with other local advocates to provide model language and work with Council members to make protecting youth from bullying a District priority.

The District of Columbia joins 17 other states in prohibiting bullying on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Nationally, bullying of LGBT students is pervasive. Over 85% of LGBT students report being harassed because of their sexual or gender identity.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

Contact HRC

Phone: (202) 628-4160
Fax: (202) 347-5323

To contact HRC please visit our contact us page. If you are a member of the media, you can reach our press office at: (202) 572-8968 or email press@hrc.org.

5 Things to Know about LGBTQ Issues

1. There are roughly 10 million LGBTQ adults in the U.S., or roughly 4.1 percent of the population.

2. Sixteen percent of same-sex couples are raising children according to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2011 Current Population Survey.

3. There is no federal law that consistently protects LGBTQ individuals from employment discrimination; there are no state laws in 28 states that explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, and in 30 states that do so based on gender identity.

4. More than 50 anti-LGBTQ bills have been filed in 19 state legislatures in the 2017 state legislative session.

5. The FBI reported 1,167 hate crimes based on sexual orientation or gender identity in 2015. This is likely a dramatic undercount since thousands of agencies didn't submit any data and reporting is not mandatory.